Key BJP ally in Kerala says it won't cooperate with saffron party for Chengannur bypoll

Alappuzha (Kerala): The Bharat Dharma Jana Sena, a key partner in the BJP-led NDA in Kerala, on Wednesday said it would not co-operate with the saffron party for the upcoming Assembly bypoll in Chengannur unless "issues" are resolved.

BJP has not fulfilled the promises it made to NDA partners with regard to appointments in boards and corporations, BDJS president Thushar Vellapally told reporters after a meeting of the party leaders.

"In the present circumstances, it is difficult for the party to cooperate with NDA in the coming polls," he said.

However, he made it clear that the party has not taken any decision to leave the NDA. "Once issues are settled, a united NDA could face the polls," he said.

Representational image. AFP

The BDJS chief took exception to reports that he was chosen as a candidate by the BJP national leadership for the Rajya Sabha polls from a northern state.

It was a propaganda unleashed by certain individuals in the saffron party's state unit to "insult" him and BDJS, he alleged.

"BDJS would file a written compliant to BJP national president Amit Shah seeking action against those responsible for spreading false reports about my Rajya Sabha candidature," he said.

"Neither I nor the party has asked for a Rajya Sabha seat," the BDJS chief added.

Meanwhile, BJP state president Kumanom Rajasekharan said the issues raised by BDJS would be brought to the BJP central leadership's notice. He also expressed confidence that a united NDA would face the Chengannur bypoll.

The relations between BJP and BDJS have not been cordial with the latter alleging that the saffron party had not given due recognition to them and posts and positions in boards and corporations as promised.

BDJS was formed in 2015 by the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam headed by its powerful general secretary Vellapally Nateshan.

SNDP is a social organisation of the numerically strong backward Ezhava community in the state.

Even though election notification for the Chengannur bypoll has not been issued, the ruling CPM-led LDF, UDF Opposition spearheaded by the Congress and BJP have announced their candidates for the seat.

CPM Alappuzha district seretary Saji Cherian is the candidate of the LDF and Congress leader D Vijayakumar the UDF candidate. Former BJP state president PS Sreedharan Pilla is the NDA candidate.